René Marois

Research in the Marois lab centers on two main main topics. First, much of the lab's work focuses on understanding the neural basis of attention in humans using fMRI and psychophysical tools. They are particularly interested in understanding the neural basis of attentional capacity limits (why can we only attend to few objects at a time? Why can't carry out more than one task at a time?). They are also exploring the nature of the relationship between attention, working memory and awareness. The second research thrust of the lab concerns the nascent field of 'Neurolaw' in collaboration with faculty members of the Law School. Specifically, the lab is is interested in elucidating the brain mechanism underlying legal and punishment decision-making.

Yue, Q., Newton A.T., Marois, R. (2025) Ultrafast fMRI reveals serial queuing of information processing during multitasking in the human brain. Nature Communications, 16, 3057. Hartsough, L. E. S., Ginther, M. R., Cheng, E.K., & Marois, R. (2025). A psychometric approach to decision-making thresholds across legal and societal domains. PNAS Nexus, 2025 Jan 2;4(1):pgae592. doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae592. Tamber-Rosenau, B.J., Newton, A.T., Marois, R. (2024). Flexible encoding of multiple task dimensions in human cerebral cortex. Front. Cognit., Vol.3 https://doi.org/10.3389/fcogn.2024.1438390 Ginther, M. R., Hartsough, L. E., & Marois, R. (2022). Moral outrage drives the interaction of harm and culpable intent in third-party punishment decisions. Emotion, 22(4), 795.